montezooma

^ Thanks everyone for your comments. I just love watching these Kid's World videos for their sheer campiness, but there is also some great old footage...Turn of the Century!!! For those of you asking about 321 contact, I am almost positive I have something on that. I have not come across it yet in the videos I have transferred but I remember seeing it. GAcoaster- not to get all lovey-dovey, but again I have to say "GREAT SITE!" I spent hours on it yesterday and still have much to cover. I loved the Parachuter's Perch page! The only thing I have posted on Great Adventure so far has been this souvenir book but as a bonus for you, here is a clip I shot back in the 80's at the park.

As much as I love the red, white & blue color scheme of the original trains, I also liked this second color scheme of the trains. They had 3 variations: the lead car came in red (shown in the postcard above) they also had green and blue

Um, Orient Express has been deceased for over 5 years now... Robb, should I let you take this one?

And now for something completly random... I will always love this ride.

Kid's World searches out the Loch Ness Monster "People have been searching for the Loch Ness Monster for many years. Well, it's been found. It's at Busch Gardens...and you can even take a ride on it" Glenn Robertson reports on this Monster. I wonder what ever happened to Glenn? I am guessing he is a hair dresser on Fire Island...Oh no you did-unt [tprtv]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=kidsworldlochness[/tprtv]

Lets not forget another park that had a WEAK ride lineup and projected 30,000 guest days and was also an epic failure...MGM Grand Adventures. The only reason it stayed open as long as it did was because it had a major casino backing it. They could afford to float the park until something better came along. They also kept throwing money at the park trying to fix it but it was esentially throwing good money after bad. the park was a bust it was just covered up by a good PR department at the MGM.

I read on Screamscape that they have actually captured the real Yeti and are in the process of switching them

Kid's World and the all mighty Colossus Yay! another episode of Kid's World with classic ride footage, porn music and the ever popular comments by the classically trained reporters! If you like Matthew Miller in this episode you are in luck, he will be back for a report on the Revolution in a couple of days! Kid's RULE! PS- Janet is HOT and she likes roller coasters! [tprtv]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=KidsWorldColossus[/tprtv]

There are still a couple of bugs that have to be worked out with TPR TV. Robb is aware of them and working on them. I probably should have waited until all the bugs were worked out to start this super mini series but I just think TPR TV is so "neat" and I couldn't wait.

God I miss Japan! Those are some FUNKY parks!

If you enjoyed my post on Intamin's 1st generation Free Falls then you MUST check out this site: http://www.greatadventurehistory.com/Freefall.htm I don't know who runs this Great Adventure History site but it is top notch and full of GREAT things from this park.

Kid's World: Screamin' Eagle Here is another segment from Kid's World that highlights the Screamin' Eagle at Six Flags Mid-America. At the time it held the record for the biggest, fastest, tallest, blah, blah, blah. Almost as fun as watching these retro coaster clips is watching the kids doing the interviews. [tprtv]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=KidsWorldScreaminEagle[/tprtv]

^^ Unfortunately I do not have the World's of Fun episode, I missed that one. Here are the episodes I do have: Marriott's Great America Screamin' Eagle Loch Ness Monster Revolution Colossus Jet Scream at Six Flags over Mid-America Cinerama Coaster Big Bend The Beast

So what is the deal with the Shuttle Loop? I am getting concerned that this ride is down for the count. I visited this park after our Japan trip and it was also down then and looked like it had been for some time. I hope we have not lost another Shuttle...I fear for Greezed Lightnin'. PS- I loved the Log Coaster! Also an interesting fact: this park has a Toys R' Us. PSS- Has it been varified that the train on the corskscrew came from Drachen Fire???

Umm...Cedar Downs, the Midway Carousel, all nine of the rides in Planet Snoopy (2008), and I think Wildcat were all "used." For that matter so were the train engines- one of which is named after his wife. I'm pretty sure what Shane meant was a "headliner" attraction. Raptor, Mantis, Maverick, Millennium Force, even Wicked Twister. Something he can point to, and proudly say "That's MY ride! I built that." If Dick is going to build a headliner, *DICK* will build the headliner, not pick up someone else's ride at a fire sale. And some of the rides you mentioned, like the old steam trains and Cedar Downs the only way to get some of that stuff is to buy it used. I trust Shane's input. He's known and worked with some of these people WAY longer than any of us have so I believe his advice is solid. --Robb "That's at least what I think he meant." Alvey Exactly what I meant.

Oh yeah, I have 9 segments from this program. Check in daily for the next week, I will have a new one for you each day. Tomorrow, Screamin' Eagle.

While on the subject of Space Mountain, here is the Florida Version

To celebrate the arrival of TPR TV, and even my own channel, Shane's Amusement Attic on TPR TV. I have really opened up the vaults of Shane's Retro VCR. I want to share one of my most favorite video collections, 9 episodes from a program back in the 1970's called Kid's World and then I am going to follow that up with a program that appeared on E! titled "Theme Parks A Go-Go" So sit back for the next two weeks and enjoy these exclusive mini series brought to you daily by Shane's Amusement Attic and TPR TV! Kid's World: Marriott's Great America. In this episode of Kid's World the three early coasters of Marriott's Great America in Gurnee are featured. There is some great footage of the Turn of the Century before it was converted to the Demon. Also notice that Willard's Whizzer has over 70 banked turns...I think the reporter missed one important word..."degree" [tprtv]http://www.themeparkreview.com/coastertube/play.php?vid=KidsWorldGreatAmerica[/tprtv]

Just how large of an investment do you think this would be? And Dollywood has planned to add a B&M such as this for years... From someone who has been involved in the construction of several B&M coasters the typical cost ratios are: whatever the cost of the ride is is equal to the cost of foundation, footings and erection. The footers for B&M's are huge and deep. Meaning that if the original cost of the ride was $15 million then the breakdown would be approximately $7.5 for the actual ride and $7.5 for construction. So they may be able to buy the ride for $1-$2 million but it is still going to cost them $7.5 to install, not to mention the cost in taking the ride down and shipping it to the new location. As far as Dollywood goes...Why would they want to install a sit down looper when they already have one? Not to mention I was just there and I don't recall one area of the park that is flat where LZ could be installed. Not even their parking lot is flat. If Dollywood wants a B&M I would assume they would go with an inverted.

SeaWorld parks already have quality B&M's. If Texas or San Diego get one, it won't be a "used" one. Even though the Belgians at InBev are known for penny pinching, they don't want to take away the division that's really banking right now (despite the economy, the Florida parks have been busy just as last year) and with their relationship with B&M, I think they would put something in that's unique, and not a sit down mediocre machine. Take off your enthusiast hat for a minute and put on your park executive hat. If you can pick up a decent coaster at a fraction of the cost...it is something that is extremely marketable, it has great capacity and it is a B&M which are known for easy maintenance and reliability. Why in the world would you not pick this ride up and install it in either one of the CA or TX parks? With the money saved on the ride hardware they could really do a great job with the themeing. LZ would be a great compliment to the existing coasters and something totally unique to both parks.

^ Yes they fit each one of those coasters into the park, but they were custom designed to fit into and around existing areas. I highly doubt they could take LZ and fit it into that park. Sorry just wont work unless they stick it out in the parking not where there are non existing structures.

^ I am not saying that it would replace those rides in their current locations. It would just be a replacement for the ride type.

^^ LZ may not be a hit with enthusiasts but I am sure it would score big with the GP. It would be an ideal purchase for a major park that is looking to replace its outdated Arrow looper with something that is more modern and easy to maintain as well as being something they could market. Here are my theories: Parks that could use it: Carowinds - could replace Carolina Cyclone, but I think they have something else in mind for the upcoming years. Valleyfair - could replace Corkscrew Canada's Wonderland - could replace Dragon Fyre but too soon after Behemoth. Six Flags America - LZ would be an ideal fit for this park desperately in need of a new ride Six Flags St. Louis - could replace Ninja, but they did just build EK Six Flags Great America - would they dare replace Demon...this could work California's Great America - they really should replace their woody before they look into replacing anything steel Six Flags over Texas - could look really good across the lake from the Judge Sea World Texas - perfect fit! Sea World San Diego - if they could get the permit this would be an ideal ride for them! Kennywood - if they have room it would be a nice fit. Magic Springs - these are the guys that built Chang at SFKK so it wouldn't surprise me Parks that can't use it: Six Flags over Georgia - have enough sit down loopers Kings Dominion - you can't follow up Dominator with LZ although it would fit nicely in Anaconda's location Six Flags Great Adventure - too similar to Medusa Dorney Park - too similar to Hydra HersheyPark - have enough sit down loopers Busch Gardens (both) - like they would ever buy something used Cedar Point - Dick would never put anything used in "his" park Kings Island - too soon after Diamondback Six Flags New England - too similar to Dark Knight Six Flags Discovery Kingdom - too similar to Medusa Six Flags Fiesta Texas - too similar to Superman Six Flags Magic Mountain - has enough of that same layout Knott's Berry Farm - no room Dollywood - Tennessee Tornado fits the bill Silver Dollar City - same as Wildfire Marineland - flat coaster...terrain park Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom - I can't see Six Flags making that big of an investment in this small park. Geauga Lake - too late AstroWorld - too late Parks that can't afford it: Holiday World - for what it would cost to take down, transport and rebuild they could get something that would better fit their needs Silverwood - same as above Elitch Gardens - no room Great Escape - LZ is a major ride...GE is a minor park Michigan's Adventure - same as above Darien Lake - same as above Joyland - please build Greezed Lightnin' before you take on another project! Have I missed anything?

^ one of my favorite-est episode, that and the "what if" machine Fing-longer anyone?

What I don't understand is how they were able to get $400 million in the first place to build this park???? If the demographics weren't there, the location bad and the concept flawed who was stupid enough to sink that kind of money into it.